Check valve assembly



Jan. 11, 1944. A. L. PARKER CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed March 15, 1941 a Z a v a \M 6 M N 2 FM a 2 M 2 W f 9 1 W 9] 0 J J through and so as to Patented Jan. 11, 1944 I 2,339,101 CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY Arthur L. Parker, Cleveland, Ohio Application March 13, 1941, Serial No. 383,206

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in a valve assembly for con trolling the passage of fluid, and more particularly to improvements in a check valve assembly for use in hydraulic pressure lines.

In various hydraulic pressure systems, it is often desirable to include one or more check valves which operate to automatically open and close the pressure line in accordance with the pressure diflerential upon opposite sides of the valve. 'As' the pressure varies, the valve is correspondingly moved in opposite directions and in order for the valve to properly and efficiently function to provide a tight seal between the valve and the valve seat, it is necessary to exactly center 'the relatively movable parts so as to prevent any jamming thereof. The present invention contemplates the provision of a check valve assembly which can be made in extremely small sizes and which i constructed and arranged so as to prevent chattering or pounding of the valve during operation thereof. In the pressure systems of aircraft or the like, there are rigid weight and size requirements which must be complied with and the present check valve assembly is particularly adapted to be employed with the relatively small tube or pipe lines of aircraft pressure systems, Thus, the valve assembly is constructed and arranged so that it will occupy a minimum amount of space and so that it will not materially increasethe weight of the coupled pressure lines.

An object of the present invention is to provide a valve assembly of relatively smalldimensions which iscogstructed and arranged so as to maintain a, substantially free flow of fluid thereprevent chattering or pounding of the valve. A further object of the invention is to provide a valve assembly of the above type wherein the fluid flows around the valve member, when open, and along a substantially unobstructed annular passage so as to eliminate the necessity of directing the fluid through relatively small apertures in the valve. r

A still further object of the invention is to provide a valve assembly of the above type wherein the relatively movable parts of the valve assembly are supported in such a manner; preferably. by the same coupling part, so as to obviate the necessity of compensating for any inaccuracy or eccentricity of the joint between the connected coupling parts.

The invention still furtheraims to provide a valve assembly of the above type which is rela im; male and female tween the adjacent The above and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of 'the valve as.- sembly.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve assembly.

and will be hereinafter Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2. I

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the valve casing is illustrated as includcoupling parts III, II, respectively. .The female coupling part includes a sleeve portion l2 which extends toward the male coupling part 30 and provides a housing wall for the assembly. One end of the sleeve or skirt portion i2 is internally threaded, as at I 3, to threadedly engage an externally threaded portion I on an internal sleeve portion I5 on the male coupling part. A packing washer It may be provided be-- surfaces of the male and female coupling parts so as to provide a fluid-tight joint. The male and female coupling parts are provided with wrench-engaging portions Ha, Ha, respectively, so that these parts can be tightly secured together. The female coupling part H is provided with an outward extension II which is centrally bored, as at l8, and which is provided with external threads l1a adapted for connection to a suitable inlet conduit. The male coupling part III is provided with an outward extension l9 which is centrally bored, as at 20, and which is also externally threaded, as at I So, in order to adapt it for connection to a suitable outlet conduit.

,the female coupling part II is provided with an outwardly offset wall portion 2| and an annular shoulder 22. A ring member or annulus 23 is pressed into the wallportion 2| with one end thereof abutting against the shoulder 22.- The opposite end of the ring 23 the inner end of the internal sleeve portion IS on the male coupling part III. The inner surface of the ring member 23 is substantially flush with the inner end of. the surfaces of the sleeve portion l2 and the sleeve portion 15 so as to present a smooth surface to the fluid passing therethrough. There is also provided an inner ring or annulus 24 which is illustrated as being connected to the outer ring member 23 by integral is disposed adjacent I tain a substantially free hole 33 may be omitted spokes r ribs 25 which extend radially between the two ring members and form arcuate passages which, in turn, provide a substantially unob structed annular passage for the fluid. The inner ring or sleeve member 24 serves as a guideway for the valve stem 26 which is in the form of a sleeve having a valve member 21 formed on one end thereof and adapted to cooperate with a valve seat 28 at the inner end of the inlet passage l8.

The opposite end of the inner sleeve member 24 is closed by a plug .29. which may be secured thereto by a pin 30 or the like. The plug 29 is provided with an axial projection 3| which is disposed in line with the valve sleeve 26. A coil spring 32 has one end thereof surrounding the projection 3| and bearing against the plug 29 and has the opposite end thereof disposed within the valve sleeve 26 and bearing against the valve member. Thus, the spring 32 tends to normally force the valve member 21 toward a seated position. A small bleed hole 33 may be provided in the side wall of the inner annulus 24 for the purpose of admitting fluid to thespace 34 between the valve sleeve 26, the inner annulus 24 and the plug 29.

When the valve assembly is connected in a hydraulic pressure line, that is, between the inlet or supply line and the discharge or outlet line, fluid under pressure from a pump or other suitable source of supply will enter the inlet passage 18 and exert an opening force against the valve member 21. When the pressure reaches a degree sufficient to overcome the normal closing action of the spring 32, the valve member will have shifted away from the valve seat 28 and fluid will pass around the valve member and into the valve casing. From the valye casing, the fluid will pass along a substantially unobstructed annular passage between the concentric ring or sleeve members 23, 24 and then outwardly through the discharge passage 20. It will be seen, therefore, that the present construction is such as to mainflow of fluid when the valve member is open. Fluid on the discharge side of the valve member 21 will gain access to the chamber within the inner sleeve or ring 24 through the bleed hole 33 or, if desired, the bleed and fluid may gain access to the chamber'34 within the ring member 24 by seepage between the adjacent inner surfaces of the ring member 24 and the outer surface of the valve sleeve 26. Movement of the valve member away from the seat 28 will cause the valve sleeve or skirt 26 to reduce the effective size of the space or chamber 34 but the bleed hole 33 provides a restricted escape passage for the fluid so that the escape of fluid is substantially retarded. Thus, the chamber 34 acts as a cushioning means to prevent sudden movement of the valve member in an opening direction so that pounding or chattering of the valve is prevented.

When the pressure in the inlet line is reduced below a predetermined degree, the spring 32 tends to force the valve member 21 toward its closed position resting on the valve seat 28. During this closing movement of the valve member, a partial vacuum is created within the chamber 24 since the restricted aperture 33 retards flow of fluid from the valve casing into the chamber 34. Thus, pounding of the valve member on. its seat is prevented and this elimination of pounding or chattering also serves to eliminate any peening of the valve member in striking the seat. The spring 32 tends to resist opening movement of the valve member 21 and tends to normally force the valve member toward its seated position. The chamber 24 provides a cushioning means for checking or damping rapid movements of the valve member so as to prevent pounding or chattering thereof.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an eflicient check valve assembly which necessitates the employment of a minimum number of parts. Furthermore, the construction is such that the entire valve assembly can be made in extremely small over-all dimensions while maintaining a substantially free flow of fluid therethrough. The outer periphery of the valve member 21 is substantially coincident with the outer surface of the inner ring member 24 so that fluid is caused to readily pass around the valve member and into the substantially unobstructed passage which is provided between the inner and outer ring members 23, 24, It is to be further noted that the concentric ring assembly, the valve seat 28 and the valve member andvalve sleeve, are entirely supported within the coupling part I I so that the relatively movable parts can be accurately centered, thus assuring proper seating of the valve on the valve seat during movements thereof. Thus, the present construction obviates the necessity of compensating for any inaccuracy or eccentricity of the threaded joint between the male and female coupling parts.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A check valve assembly comprising a casing having at its opposite ends projecting portions for pipe connections, each projecting portion having a port leading therethrough to the interior of the casing, said casing including inner and outer sleeves screw threaded one within the other, said outer sleeve being counter-bored to provide a shouldered recess, an outer ring fitting within said recess and bearing against said shoulder, said ring being clamped against the shoulder by the inner sleeve, said ring having radial inwardly extending spaced arms formed integral therewith. an inner ring concentric with said outer ring and formed integral with said arms, said outer ring being flush with the inner as to provide free flowing fluid passages between the rings, said outer sleeve having a valve seat surrounding the port therein, a valve adapted to contact with said seat, said valve having a stem 2. A check valve assembly comprising a casing having at its opposite ends projecting portions for pipe connections, each projecting portion having a port leading therethrough to the interior of the casing, said casing including inner and without any jamming surface of the casing so I a valve seat surrounding the port therein, a valve ring having radial inwardly said outer sleeve having an outer ring fitting within adapted to contact with said seat, said valve having a stem slidingly guided in said inner ring, said inner ring forming the sole guiding support for said valve, means for closing the end of the inner ring so as to provide a cushioning chamber of which the end of the valve stem forms one wall,

a spring in said chamber for normally seating said valve, and means providing a restricted twoway communication between the valve casing and the cushioning chamber for preventing chattering or pounding of the valve member during operation thereof.

ARTHUR L. PARKER. 

